By Sam Goold

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Mario Gomez says strikers will always have a part to play in football, as Germany prepare to face Kazakhstan without a recognised centre forward in their starting 11.

The Bayern Munich man is the only striker in Joachim Low's squad, with the national team coach admitting that he is considering using the offensive midfielders at his disposal to rotate the most offensive attacking slot.

But Gomez remains confident that his trade remains very much alive and cited the need for every team to have a "killer" in their armoury.

He told TZ: “Barcelona showed people how to do it. People say it is true that Barca play without centre forward - Lionel Messi is a brutal centre forward.

“Each team needs such a killer. Whether that is small or large. Romario was also a small striker and was a killer.

"Barca's system does not work when Messi does not score as many goals. Just as we have in the national team, many players who play similar. Mario Gotze, Marco Reus and Mesut Ozil, they are all small, lively players, but also shoot the goals, but not 70 in a season.

“The point is that there are few opportunities in top games. For this you need a striker who has the absolute will to achieve the goal."

The 27-year-old has scored seven goals in 14 Bundesliga appearances this season.